Dr. Carver has served in various roles at SPC including as HEC’s Interim Provost, Director (formerly Lead Faculty Associate) for the Center of Excellence for Teaching and Learning (CETL), and continuing contract faculty in the Health Information Technology department. He has also served as an adjunct for the Applied Ethics Department. Prior to his academic and administrative roles, he supported and managed grant projects that exceeded $3 million in federal and state funding for various programs within HEC.

Before joining SPC, Dr. Carver worked as a Financial Aid and Veteran Services advisor at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. In addition, his health administration experience also includes current service as a U.S. Air Force Reserve officer for the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida. He serves on several community boards including the Institutional Review Board for BayCare, Pinellas County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee and Leadership Pinellas.

Dr. Carver holds a doctoral degree in Health Sciences from Nova Southeastern and graduate degrees in both Public Administration and Bioethics & Medical Humanities. Additional graduate work includes certificates in Health Leadership & Management as well as Health Informatics. Other certifications include EMT, Practical Nursing, and Six Sigma Black Belt.

Last fall when Capt. Dr. Eric Carver, a decorated Air Force veteran, found out he needed to attend an 11-day training for his service in the Air Force Reserve, he knew it might be a problem, as he was serving as the interim provost at St. Petersburg College’s Caruth Health Education Center. He went to his supervisor, Senior Vice President of Student Services Dr. Tonjua Williams, for approval. She didn’t bat an eye and assured him that she would make sure that his post at the center would be taken care of in his absence.

“She was supportive, caring and genuine – all the attributes of an effective executive leader,” Carver said.

On Feb. 29, Williams was surprised and honored to be presented the award during an event on the HEC campus.

Tonjua Williams

“I was just floored,” she said. “It was a total surprise. As a college, SPC is very supportive of its employees. And I believe in what military personnel do, and I appreciate their sacrifice. I feel it is my duty to help them fulfill theirs.”

Carver said Williams deserves the award because she does a lot to serve veterans.

“She oversees Veterans Services for the college, and she supports my training as an Air Force Reserve officer. She sees my training as an asset to the college, because the more I learn, the more I can share.”

Bay News 9 reported on the college’s new Orthotics and Prosthetics Technology Associate Degree, which will be available to students this fall. Program Director Arlene Gillis was interviewed for the story and said the degree, the only one of its kind in the state, will “teach students the fundamentals of designing and fabricating prosthetic and orthotic devices.”

Research suggests the number of patients who will need this kind of care is increasing and current practitioners are retiring.

The coursework, offered at SPC’s $11 million J.E. Hanger College of Orthotics and Prosthetics at the Health Education Center, meets a growing demand for certified technicians who can fabricate, repair and maintain quality orthotics and prosthetics under the direction of certified orthotists and prosthetists. The college has had a bachelor’s degree program in orthotics and prosthetics since 2005. This degree expands the options for students.

“St. Petersburg College is the only educational institution in the United States to offer orthotic and prosthetic education of all levels and scopes,” said Program Director Arlene Gillis. “Our Comprehensive Innovation Center houses O&P continuing education courses, certificate classes, an associate degree, bachelor’s degree and master’s level education. Having a complete orthotic and prosthetic career ladder means that SPC is a ‘one-stop shop’ for O&P education and students can enter the field in a variety of ways, adding to their credentials if they choose to continue their education.”

Orthotics and Prosthetics is an expanding health care field that involves evaluating, fabricating and custom fitting artificial limbs and orthopedic braces to help rehabilitate patients with disabling conditions. Demand for O&P professionals who can treat conditions brought on by age and rising rates of obesity and diabetes continues to grow, as do the educational requirements.

A recent study by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education estimates that without an increase in O&P graduates, the number of practicing orthotists can serve just 61% of patients who need them. The study also projects the number of people using prostheses to increase by 50%. Currently, more than 54 million people experience functional limitations due to impairment or health conditions.

Careers in orthotics and prosthetics include practitioners (certified orthotists and certified prosthetists), pedorthists, assistants, fitters and technicians. The practitioner level provides comprehensive care, including assessment, treatment plans and practice management, and requires a master’s degree. Those who assist practitioners at various levels need post-secondary training and certifications.

Last year, SPC received part of an $11-million federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant aimed at expanding the number of trained, certified health care workers with expertise in orthotics and prosthetics.

Mastectomy and Orthotic Fitter certificates that can apply to the associate degree

To help students master the computerized planning process, materials fabrication and professional patient skills they need on the job, SPC offers extensive facilities. These include 5,151 square feet of lab space with 48 individual work stations, 12 specialized fabrication devices, an overhead and wall projector system, and four industrial sewing machines; and 3,443 of lab support space for CAD/CAM systems, machining, laminating, plastering, thermal forming, mill/lathe and material testing.

For more information or to apply for the Orthotics and Prosthetics program, go to www.spcollege.edu/op or call 727-341-4153.

The Tampa Tribune reported on the story of Army Sgt. 1st Class Billy Costello who, with the help of St. Petersburg College’s J.E. Hanger College of Orthotics and Prosthetics, is designing a device that would allow him to return to the level of activity he had as a Green Beret combat diver.

On Sept. 20, 2011, Costello stepped on an improvised explosive device in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He lost his right leg above the knee.

Arlene Gillis, the college’s Orthotics and Prosthetics program director, is coordinating the effort. SPC is part of a consortium with Florida State University offering a master’s in industrial engineering, a specialization in the management of orthotics and prosthetics, the Tribune reported.

St. Petersburg College students learned about jobs/career opportunities and spoke with local health-related companies at Career Day Oct. 29 at the Caruth Health Education Center. Some of the participating vendors were BayCare Health System, HCA Hospitals, Gracewood Rehabilitation, Florida Hospital Carrollwood, Sunstar Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and more. As students visited vendor tables, they received a stamp on their attendance card. Once they had at least 10 stamps, they were entered into a drawing for three Publix gift certificates. HEC Career Day is held every spring and fall.

St. Petersburg College’s health programs are highly effective at preparing graduates to become some of the best employees around.

Just take a look at the numbers: graduates routinely pass their certification exams above national averages and find work in their fields at very high rates. Also, employers rate our graduates favorably, noting they are very well suited for their careers.

In this infographic the success rates of the Radiography program are noted. Look for future graphics to highlight similar numbers for each of SPC’s career programs.